Buffalo Bills News - November 30, 2002

Now or never, veterans must lead [6:10 AM]D and C reports:
'If the Bills fail to make the playoffs, it won’t be the team’s eight starters in their first or second year who will take the blame. It’ll be the guys who’ve been down this path.'

Fiedler, Carter improve [6:07 AM]Miami Herald reports:
'Carter met with his doctor before practice and received some encouraging news in his battle back from kidney problems. Carter's tests improved and he might play on Sunday.'

Late-season swoon? Take a cold pill [6:06 AM]Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel reports:
'No Dolphins team of recent vintage has been as suited for this final slippery stretch as this one. It has a healthy roster, with 20 of 22 starters available, Jay Fiedler ready to return and Cris Carter close. It finally has a bruising runner in Ricky Williams, who realizes he was acquired to plow a path over Miami's past. And it has a defense fresh following the time-draining work Williams has done from September through November.'

Wannstedt: Offense shouldn't go south [6:04 AM]Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel reports:
'A sign in the Dolphins' locker room carried this message: "Buffalo forecast is for snow. When packing your bags, please be sure to have a pair of Destroyers if you are a Nike contract player. If you are a Reebok contract player, be sure to have Wet Turf Rat shoes. It would be a good idea to begin breaking them in today." "Destroyers" and "Wet Turf Rats" are models of shoes specifically designed for wet Astroturf-type surfaces.'

Back could sideline Marion; Fiedler, Carter questionable [6:04 AM]Palm Beach Post reports:
'Coach Dave Wannstedt said Marion's back started to tighten up Thursday, which is why he was held out of practice. If Marion is unable to start against the Bills then Shawn Wooden would take his place.'

November 29, 2002

Heartbeat amid the devastation [4:16 PM]Philadelphia Daily News reports:
'It has been years since Doug Goodwin has felt this strong. He gets around well now, and travels to see his son play at Boston College whenever he can. The only problem is that even with the help he received from his old pals in Buffalo, he has run up $300,000 in medical expenses and has to pay another $3,000 per month for medication. Doug Jr. considered passing up his senior year at Boston College to enter the NFL draft, but Goodwin has discouraged that idea. He says he wants his son to get his degree.'

A look back at the Buffalo Bills on Thanksgiving Day [11:44 AM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
Thursday, November 24, 1994: Lions 35, Bills 21
The Lions scored on a flea-flicker on the second play of the game as Detroit handed the Bills their fourth straight road loss, 35-21 on Thanksgiving Day. WR Herman Moore was the recipient of the flea-flicker, a 51-yard pass from QB Dave Kreig at 14:13 of the first quarter. RB Barry Sanders put the Lions up 14-0 early in the second half on a four-yard run. WR Russell Copeland caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from QB Jim Kelly in the second quarter to bring the Bills within 14-7.

Many of Jim Kelly's Thanksgiving memories revolve around football [11:43 AM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
In East Brady, Pennsylvania, where I grew up, football was our town's whole life. You ate, slept, lived, and died football, whether it was playing a pick-up game in the backyard or watching the Steelers -- or whatever game we could find -- on television.

Two Minute Drill… With Phillip Crosby [11:42 AM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
Fullback Phllip Crosby was the latest member of the Bills roster to sit down with buffalobills.com for the Two Minute Drill. Read what the second-year player from Tennessee had to say about his teammates.

Steadier Lucas credits teammates [5:54 AM]D and C reports:
'But by completing 51 of 77 attempts for 642 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions over the past three weeks -- jacking up his passer rating from 48.6 to 100.7 and Miami’s record from 5-4 to 7-4 -- Lucas has his swagger back.'

Ricky nears record [5:54 AM]Miami Herald reports:
'Delvin Williams never imagined in 1978 that, when he rushed for 1,258 yards to eclipse a single-season mark held previously by Larry Csonka, it would remain a record all this time. Now it appears certain to fall. With 1,056 yards already this season, Ricky Williams needs only to average a smidgen more than 40 yards per game over the Dolphins' remaining five to knock Delvin Williams off the throne.'

Lucas to make Bills pay? [5:52 AM]Miami Herald reports:
'''I realize a lot of things,'' he said. ``I don't have to be perfect. I just have to do my job. If we don't turn the ball over, there is no one that can beat us.'''

Dynamic duo [5:51 AM]Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel reports:
'No team in the NFL has a better pair of receivers this season than the Buffalo Bills, who will lean heavily on Price and Moulds to forge an upset Sunday of the Dolphins.'

Fiedler practices, status still uncertain [5:50 AM]Palm Beach Post reports:
'Fiedler, who has not played since breaking his right thumb against Denver on Oct. 13, is expected to dress against Buffalo, but coach Dave Wannstedt still has not said whether Fiedler will be the backup quarterback or No. 3. He is listed as questionable.'

Dolphins' Taylor enjoys an MVP season [5:49 AM]Florida Today reports:
'With an AFC-high 11 sacks, 29 quarterback hurries, 49 tackles, eight passes defensed, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in 11 games, he has to be considered a strong candidate to become the third Dolphin in team history to win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.'

November 28, 2002

Gray defends himself, Bills' defense [7:54 PM]AP reports:
'''You've got guys saying, 'Jerry should be fired. Jerry should be that,''' Gray said. ''You know what, I've talked to a lot of guys and been around a lot of coaches and you know what they say? They say: 'Jerry, if you're in this business long enough, you may get fired more than once.''''

Safety net has snags for Bills [9:06 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'It is no surprise three-quarters of the way through the season that Coy Wire and Pierson Prioleau are suffering through growing pains.'

More points would make Moulds happy [9:06 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'Sunday's game is sold out, but there may be some tickets available at the box office today and Friday if the Miami organization returns some seats from its allotment for the game.'

Bills' receivers want to air it out [5:58 AM]D and C reports:
'What is frustrating for the receivers is that the majority of the throws are underneath routes because the deep routes are being choked, so Bledsoe has opted against going long in favor of taking what the defense is giving him -- the short passes, many of which have been directed at the backs and tight ends.'

Bills' defense worries Wannstedt [5:57 AM]D and C reports:
'Both teams will enter the game pretty healthy for late November. The only player listed on Buffalo’s injury report is CB Antoine Winfield with a lower leg ailment, and he’s probable.'

Bills need to shorten drive starts [5:56 AM]Olean Times Herald reports:
'In the last 31/2 games, Buffalo hasn’t commenced a single drive in opposing territory ... that’s 33 possessions without starting on the opponent’s side of the 50.'

For Bills, weather is delightful [5:55 AM]Miami Herald reports:
'''There's snow on the ground today,'' Williams said with satisfaction in his voice. ``And it's supposed to snow all week long. I sure hope it snows. I hope it's Buffalo Bills weather. You play good old-fashioned football in those conditions.'' At this point, the Bills are looking for any positives.'

R. Williams, Taylor receive AFC honors [5:54 AM]Miami Herald reports:
'Taylor, who leads the AFC with 11 sacks, won the award for the second consecutive month -- the first time in NFL history a player has won back-to-back monthly honors.'